Creed: Eyewitness, page 4
He was still invading them when Taylor heard the dispatcher's voice blaring in her ear. "2234?"
Taylor reached for the radio on her shoulder strap. "2234. What's up, squad?"
"There's a call of a domestic disturbance. Wife says the husband hit her, and he won't leave."
After the dispatcher read out the address, Taylor responded with, "10-4. En route."
"Do you need backup?" asked the dispatcher.
"We'll let you know. We're three blocks away."
"10-4."
Maria sped up. After turning a few corners, she pulled over close to the address that was dispatched. Taylor stepped out of the squad car and assessed her surroundings. It was quiet. Whatever the disturbance was, it was contained indoors. Taylor flanked by Maria, approached the house cautiously, and knocked on the door. After a few seconds, the door flew open, and a young woman appeared. She couldn't have been any more than twenty-five years old. She had a panicked expression, and there was blood trickling from her mouth.
"He's in the bedroom," she said in a hushed voice, pointing to a closed door down a hall.
The woman stepped out of the way to allow them inside.
"Stay here," Maria told the woman as they cautiously made their way to the bedroom.
Taylor looked around the almost-empty house. In the living room, there was a beat-up couch and a television that was sitting on top of milk crates. Once at the end of the hall, Taylor turned the knob and slowly opened the door. Soon they had an unobstructed view of a six foot five inch, butt naked man. The smirk on his face was proof that his intention was to use his nudity as a distraction.
Under any other circumstance, it would have worked. He was a fairly attractive, muscular man.
"Sir, we got a call. Did you hit your wife?" Maria asked.
"What goes on between a man and his wife is none of your business. Now, unless you're planning on sucking my dick, get the fuck out of my house," hissed the naked man.
"2234," Taylor called into her radio.
"Go, 2234."
"Roll us another car over here."
"10-4. We'll get you some backup."
Taylor and Maria triangulated the bigger man. Maria's hand migrated toward her pepper spray, as opposed to Taylor's, that inched toward her asp.
"Get the fuck out of my house!" the man bellowed, bolting toward them.
Taylor flung the asp to its full length and swung as if she was teeing off on a golf course, delivering a painful blow to the man's genitals. The woman beater fell on all fours. Before he could recover, Maria blinded him by spraying a good amount of pepper spray in his face. As he wailed loudly, Taylor thought to herself that no grown man his size should be screaming like a little bitch. However, though most abusers can dish out pain, but they can’t take it.
Suddenly, the so-called victim entered the room screaming, "What are you doing to him?! Stop! You're hurting him!"
Is this bitch serious?
Taylor took a second to look back at the stupid woman. Her lip was still bleeding, and it had tripled in size. She yelled at the woman to get out and returned her attention to the immediate threat. Taylor used the asp to sweep his hands from under him. When he fell face down, they pounced. It was a struggle, but they'd finally got his hands behind his back so that Maria could slip on the handcuffs. Once his hands were secure, they dragged the man from the bedroom. The pepper spray in the small room was beginning to affect their vision and breathing.
Taylor could hear sirens approach and the sound of screeching tires once they entered the living room. Since the offender was cuffed and ass naked, he was assumed secure and without weapons, so she leaned against the wall and coughed in between deep breaths, attempting to clear the pepper spray from her lungs. Maria did the same.
Taylor pushed off the wall when she heard the heavy footsteps of her fellow officers storming the front porch. She grabbed the radio on her shoulder and called for the dispatcher.
"Squad, you can slow it down. The offender is in custody."
"10-4."
The dispatcher informed the other officers, who were en route to provide backup, that the scene was secure. She thanked them for responding and instructed them that backup was no longer needed.
"2234?" the dispatcher called.
"2234. Go."
"Your victim requested a supervisor. Sergeant Howard is en route."
"10-4, Squad. Thanks."
Taylor looked up at Maria, who was shaking her head. Before either could comment, several officers entered the living room.
"Well, he is a big one," Corey Campbell commented. "But y'all don't look like ya needed no help."
"What you mean, Corey? We'll always need you and your big strong arms for protection," Maria responded, flirtatiously.
"Cut it out, Mendez!" Sergeant Howard interrupted. "You can work on committing adultery when you get off the clock."
Taylor laughed and asked, "What's the deal, Sarge?"
"Don't know. I'll let you know when I do. Campbell, get this dude in the wagon."
Corey nodded and lifted the big naked man off the floor. He then turned to Taylor, saying, "Bring something for this motherfucker to put on when you come out."
Sergeant Howard shook his head in disgust as Corey and his partner escorted the blind, naked man out of the house. Then he walked over to the battered woman, and before he could ask her one question, she announced, "I'm the one that called."
"What's the problem?" Sgt. Howard asked in a dry tone.
"These officers!" she shouted. "They used excessive force on my husband, and I want to file a complaint."
With furrowed brows, Sgt. Howard stared at the young woman.
"You want to file a complaint against these officers that you called to stop your husband from beating your ass? Is that correct?"
"They didn't have to beat him like that."
"Well, ma'am, unlike you, he doesn't have a mark on him. But I'll tell you what; I'm gonna take your complaint, and then I'm gonna have my officers release your husband so that he can come in here and kick your ass for calling the police on him in the first place. Would that suffice?"
Fear washed over her face as she contemplated the sergeant's, not so veiled, threat. She placed her hand to her chest and said, "Never mind. Take him."
"Sure, as soon as you thank my officers for saving your ass."
"Thank you," she mumbled with a roll of her eyes.
"Go get some clothes for him," Maria responded, without grace.
She walked into the bedroom without another word.
"I'm out," Sergeant Howard said over his shoulder as he left the house.
Maria started to giggle, causing Taylor to look over at her.
"What?" Taylor asked.
"Girl, did you see the size of that anaconda? No wonder her ass ain’t left." Then she whispered, "Hell, if Mike had a dick that big, I’ll let him smack me around every now and then."
"Girl, bye," Taylor chuckled. "The first time Mike hit yo’ ass, you gonna Lorena Bobbitt that motherfucker."
"I know, right?" Maria admitted. "Tell that bitch to hurry up so we can go."
No sooner than Maria spoke the words, the lady entered the living room with a bag of clothing. Taylor took the bag, and they both exited the ungrateful woman's house.
Once they reentered their squad car, Taylor called the dispatcher. "2234."
"2234?" the dispatcher responded.
"We're going to the station with one arrest. Thank everyone for the backup."
"Going into the station," she repeated. "10-4."
creed
Since the NATO summit was to be held in Chicago this year, Victor was sitting through yet another prep meeting. Present was Charles Buchanan, the lieutenant governor, and Carl Rountree, the mayor of Chicago. Chicago's police superintendent and the deputy superintendent were also present, along with FBI intelligence. The NATO summit would require a number of the Heads of State and the Heads of Government of NATO countries to convene in one place. Therefore, law enforcement was essential. There were bound to be a number of protests and even more threats of terrorism. So, Victor knew just how important every prep meeting was, but that didn't stop his thoughts from drifting to Taylor. He couldn't wait to see her again, to kiss her again. He reminisced about the way she submitted completely to him when he kissed her. He imagined her submitting her entire beautiful body to him. Surprisingly, he found himself daydreaming of doing things other than sex with her. He could see them fishing and hunting together. Hell, he wished he could take walks with her or even hold her hand in a movie theater. She was so beautiful that he actually wanted to sleep next to her just to see how beautiful she was in the morning. Damn, Taylor Montgomery had bewitched him. She was just so different from any woman that he'd ever met.
Victor was so lost in his thoughts that he hadn't even noticed that his meeting had come to an end. He remained at the head of the conference table and watched everyone file out of the room. He rubbed his chin and wondered what to plan for his date with Taylor. Admittedly, dating was difficult for him, and dating Taylor, a "normal" woman, was really going to be a challenge. Would she understand that he couldn't just walk into a restaurant, hand-in-hand with a woman like the average man? Since he’d lost his wife, every woman that he'd been with had understood his limitations as governor, but Taylor was different. She was special. And he had actually considered publicly dating her, but he needed to know how she felt about being linked to him first.
Victor fished his phone from his jacket pocket and dialed Taylor's number.
"Hello?" The sexy rasp in her voice sent a wake-up signal straight to his cock.
"Hello, gorgeous."
"How are you, Governor Creed?” Victor could hear the smile in her voice.
"I'm just fine, Officer Montgomery. How are you?"
"I'm good. What’s up?"
"Well, about our date tomorrow; how do you feel about, instead of going out, having dinner at my apartment in Chicago?"
"I feel just fine about that, sir."
"Good, I'll send a car for you at seven."
"I can drive."
"Yes, I know. A car will be there at seven."
"Yes, sir," she chuckled.
"Good. Now that that's settled, how was your day?"
Victor's hectic day was finally coming to a pleasant end as he laughed and talked with her for thirty minutes. Her wit and easy-going nature were a breath of fresh air in a polluted world. He'd found himself still smiling, even after their call had ended. He was so enamored that he hadn't noticed that he wasn't alone in the large conference room.
"So you have a hot date? How sweet, Governor Creed."
Victor closed his eyes and stilled himself for a few seconds before turning to face Kara Edwards. Her presence wasn't a surprise. As his press secretary, she roamed freely through the Thompson Center.
"Kara, hello."
"So, you dump me, and, in a flash, you're on to someone new."
"Kara, you knew going in that I wasn't looking for anything long term, and you assured me that you weren't either."
"So, you, and only you, get to decide when the term has ended?"
"Kara, I-"
"Who in the fuck is Taylor?!" she screamed.
Victor stared at the woman, who had used him for sex for months while screaming from the rooftop that she could handle a strictly physical relationship.
He buttoned his suit coat and prepared to exit the conference room. "Taylor..." he responded, coolly, "...is none of your business. Your business is handling the media on my behalf. Are you going to able to handle your actual business, Kara?"
Without waiting for an answer, he walked out of the conference room, leaving her seething.
As far as Victor was concerned, that conversation was over forever.
CHAPTER 6
Taylor
Taylor picked a piece of lint off of her black pencil skirt, wondering if she should have chosen a different outfit. She'd paired it with a green silk blouse. Once the town car came to a stop, she stopped fidgeting and gawked at the massive building. Once the door was opened, the driver assisted her from the car.
"Thank you," she said in almost a whisper, still staring up at the impressive piece of real estate. Taylor had only ever seen Storm Tower from the expressway. The building was a significant part of Chicago's beautiful skyline.
"You’re welcome, Miss Montgomery."
The driver's use of her name prompted Taylor to look at him.
"What's your name?" she asked him.
"I'm Collier, ma'am; the governor's regular driver."
"But you're driving me. So, what happens if there's an emergency and the governor needed to be mobile?"
"There are backups in place, ma'am," he chuckled.
"Well, it's nice to meet you, Collier."
"And you, ma'am. This way please," he said with his hand stretched toward the entrance. "I'm to escort you up."
"Thank you. And please call me Taylor."
"Yes, ma'am," he responded.
Taylor chuckled and followed him inside. As they walked through the lobby, Collier nodded to more security personnel. They nodded in return and glanced curiously at Taylor. She simply smiled and kept walking.
Once they were in the elevator, Collier pushed P88, the button for the penthouse on the eighty-eighth floor. They rode in silence, but it wasn't awkward. She was grateful for the silence. Admittedly, Taylor was a bit nervous. This was no average date, and Victor Creed was no average man.
When the elevator arrived at the desired floor, the doors glided open and revealed an awaiting Victor. He stood tall and unbelievably handsome. His towering stature and big body made her feel tiny. He was wearing a blue dress shirt with no tie and dark slacks. It was an easygoing look for the normally well-kept governor. Even his thick wavy hair was styled in a more relaxed fashion. Taylor glanced at the full lips that had kissed her with such enormous passion and mused that they were really plump for a white man.
"Hello, beautiful," he greeted with a smirk.
"Hey," Taylor responded.
She smiled and stepped off the elevator.
"Thank you, Collier," Victor said over her shoulder just as the doors slid closed.
Victor pulled her into his arms and kissed the top of her head.
"I'm glad you could make it," he said against her hair.
"Me too."
"Ma'am, I need to search your bag," said a voice coming from behind Victor.
Taylor looked around Victor's broad shoulders. She hadn't even noticed the large man in a dark suit leaning on a wall across from the elevator.
"I don't think so, mister," she responded in a calm tone, instinctively gripping her purse.
"Ma'am," he pressed, pushing off the wall.
"Sir, do you have a weapon?"
"Yes, ma'am I do."
"And it's your job to protect him?" she asked, pointing to Victor.
"It is."
"Well, sir, I have a weapon as well, and it's my job to protect me."
Victor seemed amused by the back and forth between her and the bigger man, but Taylor wasn't amused at all. She didn't like relinquishing her weapon. But the announcement of the weapon in her possession caused the bodyguard to close the distance between them. Victor placed himself between them and held his hand up, halting the bodyguard.
"Gregor, she's a cop," he told him.
Taylor could tell that the bodyguard could've cared less.
"Taylor, sweetheart, give him your bag." She turned to Victor with narrowed eyes, but before she could respond, he added, "It's his job. Besides, I'm here to protect you."
He flashed his charming smile, revealing perfect white teeth. Taylor reluctantly handed the man her purse. Victor was irresistible. He could probably convince her to rob a bank with just his smile, compounded with that rich, sexy baritone voice.
The guard, meticulously, searched her purse. He pulled her pistol out of the bag and tucked it into his pant pocket. He returned her purse and said, "Ma'am, you can have your firearm back once you leave."
Taylor swallowed her unease and nodded. Victor was right. The man was just doing his job. Hell, Victor was the governor, after all. Of course, security would be tight.
"I'm sorry," she told the guard. "I'm not used to give up Nina Boo."
"Nina Boo?" he asked, confused.
"That's her name."
He was amused. "You named your weapon?"
"Yep," Taylor confirmed.
"Well, Nina Boo..." he reassured, patting his pocket. “... will be waiting right here for you."
"All right, Gregor, stop flirting with my lady,” Victor said as he placed a possessive arm around Taylor and led them into a penthouse, leaving Gregor in the hall laughing.
"Oh my God," Taylor gasped when she stepped into the penthouse.
It was a grandiose palace that was impeccably designed. It had an open layout with curved lines. There was a remarkable panoramic view of the city. The walls were bright white and covered with art that could have dated back to the 17th Century.
"Wow, Governor Creed, with your salary being public record and all, I know damn well you can't afford this place. The bribery business must be very lucrative," she jested.
"Hey, don't make jokes like that. The governors of Illinois have a tendency to wind up in prison."
Taylor realized that he was right and burst into laughter. "Sorry… This is a nice place, though."
"Thank you. And I'll have you know that before I became the governor of the great state of Illinois, I owned a very lucrative business."
"Oh, is that so?"
"Yes. Maybe you've heard of it; Opulent Cruises."
Taylor's eyes got big. "Not only have I heard of it, but I've also traveled to the Caribbean on one of your cruise liners."
"Please tell me that you loved it and had the time of your life."
"Well, Governor Creed, I loved every minute of it and had the time of my life," Taylor giggled.
"Seriously?"
"Yep, had a ball."
"Good to know my little brothers aren't running our business into the ground."
